Modular and adjustable structural support system

ABSTRACT

A modular adjustable structural support system for the installation of medical equipment above operating rooms or equipment above telecommunications facilities comprising a plurality of girders, plurality of girder connectors, a plurality of steel installation connectors for steel construction, a plurality of concrete installation connectors for concrete construction and plurality of bracing members wherein said components form a grid allowing for moving and interchanging girders.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/012,353 filed Dec. 7, 2007.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

N/A

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Officepatent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights rightswhatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a structural support system forsecuring and suspending medical equipment or telecommunicationsequipment, and more particularly, to a modular and adjustable structuralsupport system that is secured to and suspends from a ceiling forsupporting medical or telecommunications equipment and allows theflexibility of changing and, or adjusting equipment without having toremove and re-build the structural support and, or individualinstallations of booms and the like.

2. Description of the Background Art

Structural support grid systems employing steel girders, beams andconnectors are known for supporting heavy medical equipment, such asx-ray machines, monitors, microscopes surgical lighting, gas columns,injector systems, corresponding booms and the like. Similar grid systemsare also used for telecommunication equipment. These systems aretypically secured to concrete or steel structures. Conventionalstructural support grid systems comprise steel frames secured to andsuspended from the ceiling. Medical or telecommunication equipment istypically bolted to the steel frame or otherwise secured directly to thesteel frame. In fact, it is appreciated that structural support framesare designed for specific equipment and equipment placement.Accordingly, the structural support system normally must be completelyremoved and rebuilt when equipment is replaced or in need of adjustmentor relocation. This can be extremely costly and time consuming. If thereexisted a modular and adjustable structural support system thatfacilitated adaptation to new equipment and, or adjusting or relocatingequipment without having to be removed and rebuilt, it would result insubstantial cost savings, minimal interruption of operations and be wellreceived. Unfortunately, there are no such modular and adjustablestructural support systems known that adequately or effectively addressand resolve these problems. Accordingly, there exists a need for astructural support system to resolve this need. The instant inventionaddresses and fulfills this unfulfilled need in the prior art byproviding a modular and adjustable structural support system ascontemplated by the instant invention disclosed herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a modular structural support system for securely installing andsuspending medical equipment above operating rooms.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an adjustablestructural support system for securely installing and suspending medicalequipment above operating rooms.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a modular andadjustable structural support system that allows and facilitateschanging, adjusting and, or relocating medical equipment above operatingmoves without having to remove and rebuild the structural supportsystem.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a modular andadjustable structural support system that allows and facilitateschanging, adjusting and, or relocating medical equipment above operatingmoves without having to remove and rebuild individual booms in ICUrooms.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a modularand adjustable structural support system that allows and facilitates astronger system for power and data distribution.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a modular andadjustable structural support system that allows and facilitateschanging, adjusting and, or relocating telecommunication equipment abovea telecommunications facility without having to remove and rebuild thestructural support system.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a modularand adjustable structural support system that allows and facilitateschanging, adjusting and, or relocating suspended equipment withouthaving to remove and rebuild the structural support system.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a modularand adjustable structural support system that allows and facilitateschanging, adjusting and, or relocating suspended equipment in a mannerthat is cost effective.

In light of these and other objects, the instant invention provides amodular and adjustable structural support system comprising a pluralityof steel girders, girder connectors, steel installation connectors,concrete installation connectors and bracing connectors. Thesecomponents of the instant invention are interconnected to form a grid.The system comprises multiple square modules or a single module for theinstallation of medical equipment, surgical lights and equipment booms.The steel modules are modular and adjustable. The steel girders areadjustable on the grid for accommodating the size of the equipment andfor convenient relocation of equipment. The girders are movable andsecured to the grid by the girder connectors. The grid is secured to aconcrete structure with the concrete installation connectors and to asteel structure with the steel installation connectors. The bracingconnectors provide diagonal bracing for girders and grid.

In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparenthereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particularreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the modular adjustable structural support(MASS™, a trademark of Applicant) system illustrating a possiblearrangement in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the instantinvention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of section A of FIG. 1 of the modularadjustable structural support system in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of section B of FIG. 1 of the modularadjustable structural support system in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of section C of FIG. 1 of the modularadjustable structural support system in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the instant invention.

FIGS. 5-6 are elevational views of section D of FIG. 1 of the modularadjustable structural support system in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of section E of FIG. 1 of the modularadjustable structural support system in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the modular adjustable structural supportsystem showing a single installation in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of section A of FIG. 8 of the modularadjustable structural support system in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of section B of FIG. 8 of the modularadjustable structural support system in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the modular adjustable structural systemillustrating a concrete installation in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the modular adjustable structural systemillustrating a concrete beam installation in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the modular adjustable structural systemillustrating a steel I-beam installation in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the modular adjustable structural systemillustrating a possible trauma room installation in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 15 shows plan and elevational views of the modular adjustablestructural system illustrating a possible hybrid (medical and imagingarrangement) in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the instantinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 15 depict the preferredembodiment of the instant invention which is generally referenced as amodular adjustable structural support system, structural support system,grid and, or by numeric character 10. The grid system 10 of the instantinvention allows the flexibility of changing and/or adjusting equipmentwithout the need to remove and re build the structural support above aswell as individual installations of booms in ICU rooms.

Referring to FIGS. 1-15, the structural support system 10 of the instantinvention comprises a plurality of steel girders 12-14, girderconnectors 16-26, steel installation connectors 28-40, concreteinstallation connectors 42-48 and bracing connectors 50-58. Thesecomponents of the instant invention are interconnected to form a grid.The system comprises multiple square modules or a single module for theinstallation of medical equipment, surgical lights and equipment booms.The steel modules are modular and adjustable. The steel girders areadjustable on the grid for accommodating the size of the equipment andfor convenient relocation of equipment. The girders are movable andsecured to the grid by the girder connectors. The grid is secured to aconcrete structure with the concrete installation connectors and to asteel structure with the steel installation connectors. The bracingconnectors provide diagonal bracing for girders and grid.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-15, the present invention 10 comprises asystem that allows the flexibility of changing and/or adjustingequipment without the need to remove and re-build the structural supportabove as well as individual installations of booms in ICU rooms. Asshown in FIGS. 1-15, the structural support system comprises thefollowing components:

-   -   1. Steel Girders:        -   Girder MI-90 (9′-10″)3M HDG Steel (12)        -   Girder MI-90 (19′-8″)6M HDG Steel (12)        -   Girder MI-120 (9′-10″)3M HDG Steel (14)        -   Girder MI-120 (19′-8″)6M HDG Steel (14)    -   2. Girder Connectors:        -   Girder Connector MIC-90-U HDG Steel (16)        -   Girder Connector MIC-120-U HDG Steel (18)        -   Girder Connector MIC-90-L HDG Steel (20)        -   Girder Connector MIC-T HDG Steel (22)        -   Girder Splice Connector MIC-90-E HDG Steel (24)        -   Girder Splice Connector MIC-120-E HDG Steel (26)    -   3. Steel Installation Connectors:        -   Beam Connector MIC-S90-AA HDG Steel (28)        -   Beam Connector MIC-S90-A HDG Steel (30)        -   Beam Connector MIC-S90-B HDG Steel (32)        -   Beam Connector MIC-S90-C HDG Steel (34)        -   Beam Connector MIC-S120-A HDG Steel (36)        -   Beam Connector MIC-S120-B HDG Steel (38)        -   Beam Connector MIC-S120-C HDG Steel (40)    -   4. Concrete Installation Connectors:        -   Concrete Connector MIC-C90-AA HDG Steel (42)        -   Concrete Connector MIC-C90-D HDG Steel (44)        -   Concrete Connector MIC-C120-D HDG Steel (46)        -   Concrete Connector MIC-C90-U HDG Steel (48)    -   5. Bracing Connectors:        -   Cantilever Connector MIC-U-MA HDG Steel (50)        -   Cantilever Beam Connector MIC-SA-MA HDG (52)        -   Cantilever Beam Connector MIC-SB-MA HDG (54)        -   Cantilever Conc. Connector MIC-SC-MA HDG (56)        -   Cantilever Conc. Connector MIC-CU-MA HDG (58)    -   6. Other:        -   Equipment Plate (62)        -   HS 158 Strut (64)

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the instant invention 10,the above-listed components 12-64 are used to build the MASS grid 10depending on the type of installation and the equipment requirements.The grid system 10 may comprise multiple square modules or a singlemodule for the installation of surgical lights and equipment booms. In atelecommunications environment it will serve as a distribution grid forpower and data cable racks throughout the facility. The structure can bestructured different based on the building codes and structure of thebuilding. Concrete and steel buildings would require different ways ofsuspending the MASS grid system; therefore, different parts may be usedfor the installation and build up. The MASS grid can also be built indifferent size configurations depending on the amount of equipment orlocation of the equipment.

It can also be used for the distribution of power through out atelecommunications facility, or for any type of application thatrequires a super structure above to carry heavy loads and applicableforces.

With respect to the foregoing and FIGS. 1-15, the instant invention 10may used to configure a support system for securely supporting andsuspending equipment above an operating room floor, telecommunicationsfacility or other application. Regardless of the application, a gridsystem 10 is installed with the following components according to stepsA-J, as follows:

-   -   A. Use MI-CD-90 base for all corners when installing a grid        system in concrete. The grid may be square or rectangular        depending on the room and medical equipment location.    -   B. Use MI-C90-AA base for all intermediate vertical drops as        required.    -   C. The MASS GRID range of vertical drops will vary from 42        inches minimum to 72 inches maximum spacing depending on the        design criteria and MASS GRID size.    -   D. Use two MIC-90-U corner connectors at every corner vertical        drop. Each connector will make a 90° degree connection making a        square pattern when all four corners are connected.    -   E. Use MI-90 Girders the length of the MASS GRID side for all        four corners. Cut MI-90 Girder as required per design size of        MASS GRID.        -   a. After installation of all four corners and girders, level            all four sides and square MASS GRID.        -   b. All four corner vertical drops will be a minimum 3½″            longer than the inner vertical drops to allow for            adjustability and leveling of MASS GRID.    -   F. Install all vertical drops spaced to the design criteria        creating square or rectangular modules in between the MASS GRID        as shown in drawings.    -   G. Use an MIC-90-L connector in the bottom of each drop except        for the four corners.    -   H. Use MIC-U-MA connectors for inner bracing as required per        drawing specifications.    -   I. Use MIC-CU-MA connectors for outer bracing in corners per        drawing specifications.    -   J. Equipment Installation        -   a. Inner connections using MI-90 or MI 120 girders are used            in the modules per location of the medical equipment in the            OR design.        -   b. MI-90 is used always when building the inner module at            the grid level. MI-90 girders are cut to specified length            and installed with an MIC-90-L connector at each end.        -   c. Two MI-90 girders are always used for the inner            connection that will install the location of the medical            equipment plate. The spacing of the MI-90 girder is based on            the size and location of the medical equipment manufacturer            plate size.        -   d. MI-120 or strut is then installed at 90° degree            perpendicular to the inner MI-90 girder.            -   i. Install MI-120 using MIB-SA plates in all four                corners as showing in drawings.            -   ii. Install strut using a U Clamp and bolts as showing                in drawings.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what isconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It isrecognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the invention and that obvious structural and/or functionalmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

1. A modular adjustable support system for supporting, changing,relocating or adjusting equipment above a floor or surface, wherein saidsystem comprises: a plurality of girders, means for connecting saidgirders in mechanical cooperation; means for mounting said girders to asupport structure; and a plurality of cantilever connectors fordiagonally bracing at least two girders supported together.
 2. A systemas recited in claim 1, wherein said means for connecting girderscomprises girder connectors.
 3. A system as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid means for mounting girders to a support structure comprises: aplurality of steel installation connectors.
 4. A system as recited inclaim 1, wherein said means for mounting girders to a support structurecomprises: a plurality of concrete installation connectors.